Performance hits 93.4%

Latest figures show that national train performance is at 93.4% for the period between March 4 and March 31, making it the second best period 13 on record.

This compares with 92.9% for the same period last year and 91.6% for the previous period in 2012. The moving annual average is now at 91.6%. It is also one of the few times that all franchises have achieved performance above 90%.

The highest performing franchise in this period was Merseyrail, with 97.2% punctuality. The lowest was East Coast with 90.5%.

A spokesperson for ATOC said: “These latest figures show train companies have worked hard with the rest of the industry to bring performance up to historically high levels, with over 90% of every operator’s services arriving on time. However, we’re not complacent and will continue to focus our efforts on providing passengers with the service they expect and deserve.”

Yet despite this high performance, some are calling for new proposals to introduce greater transparency to the rail industry by publishing ‘right time data’ for punctuality. At the moment performance data has built-in leeway time which allows trains that run a few minutes late to be classed as on-time.

“Punctuality is very much on my radar and I have been examining this for a number of weeks,” said Norman Baker MP, the rail minister. “As a Coalition Government we should be determined to drive up performance on the railways.”

A spokesman for Passenger Focus agreed, saying: “Passengers want their trains actually on time, not up to five or 10 minutes late. To drive passenger satisfaction higher, the industry should focus on running trains to the timetable – not just at the final destination, but at intermediate stations too.

“Longer term, the industry needs to move towards a system which reports to passengers whether trains are arriving on time, rather than within five or 10 minutes. We understand that there are ongoing discussion about how future targets are set.”

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Latest figures show that national train performance is at 93.4% for the period between March 4 and March 31, making it the second best period 13 on record.

This compares with 92.9% for the same period last year and 91.6% for the previous period in 2012. The moving annual average is now at 91.6%. It is also one of the few times that all franchises have achieved performance above 90%.

The highest performing franchise in this period was Merseyrail, with 97.2% punctuality. The lowest was East Coast with 90.5%.

A spokesperson for ATOC said: “These latest figures show train companies have worked hard with the rest of the industry to bring performance up to historically high levels, with over 90% of every operator’s services arriving on time. However, we’re not complacent and will continue to focus our efforts on providing passengers with the service they expect and deserve.”

Yet despite this high performance, some are calling for new proposals to introduce greater transparency to the rail industry by publishing ‘right time data’ for punctuality. At the moment performance data has built-in leeway time which allows trains that run a few minutes late to be classed as on-time.

“Punctuality is very much on my radar and I have been examining this for a number of weeks,” said Norman Baker MP, the rail minister. “As a Coalition Government we should be determined to drive up performance on the railways.”

A spokesman for Passenger Focus agreed, saying: “Passengers want their trains actually on time, not up to five or 10 minutes late. To drive passenger satisfaction higher, the industry should focus on running trains to the timetable – not just at the final destination, but at intermediate stations too.

“Longer term, the industry needs to move towards a system which reports to passengers whether trains are arriving on time, rather than within five or 10 minutes. We understand that there are ongoing discussion about how future targets are set.”

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